“For the airport to recover after these wind events we need the capacity to get rid of the 15-minute caps at Sydney Airport so we can land the plans we need to,” she told reporters on Friday.

“It doesn’t just affect Sydney it affects the whole country, the entire national network of airports.”

Ms Osmond said the critical issue with the cap was its lack of flexibility and suggested a system more in line with that of London’s Heathrow Airport.

“Heathrow Airport has a cap on the number of planes, except it’s an annual cap, not a 15-minute cap or an hour control … we’re simply saying let’s make the airport as productive and flexible as it needs to be.”

Passengers flying out of Sydney airport on Friday are advised to check with their airline for delays and cancellations.